I.

The Artistic Renaissance

1. Leonardo da Vinci – 1 of the great Italian Renaissance artists: “Hence the painter will produce
pictures of small merit if he takes for his standard the pictures of others, but if he will study from
natural objects he will bear good fruit… Those who take for their standard any one but nature…
weary themselves to vain.”

2. Renaissance artists considered imitation of nature their primary goal. Their search for
naturalism became an end: to persuade onlookers of reality of object/event they were portraying.
At same time: new artistic standards reflected new attitude of mind as well, 1 in which human
beings became focus of attention, “center & measure of all things” as 1 artist proclaimed.

A. Art in the Early Renaissance

1. Leonardo & other Italians maintained that it was Giotto in 14th century who began imitation of
nature. What Giotto begun, wasn’t taken up again until work of Masaccio (1401-1428) in
Florence. Masaccio’s cycle of frescoes in Brancacci Chapel has long been regarded as 1st
masterpiece of Early Renaissance art.

2. 15th century -> new Renaissance style was absorbed & modified by other Florentine painters.
*Development of experiment trend that took 2 directions. 1 emphasized mathematical side of
painting, working out of laws of perspective * organization of outdoor space & light by geometry
& perspective. Work of Paolo Uccello (1397-1475): figures became mere stage props to show
off mastery of laws of perspective. Other aspect of experimental trend involved investigation of
movement & anatomical structure.

3. The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian by Antonio Pollaiuolo (c. 1432-1498) revels in classical
motifs & attempts to portray human body under stress. During last decades of 15th century, new
sense of invention emerged in Florence, esp. in circle of artists & scholars who formed part of
court of city’s leading citizen, Lorenzo the Magnificent. Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) -> 1 of
group’s prominent members, interest in Greek & Roman myths well reflected in 1 of his most
famous works: Primavera (Spring).

4. Donato di Donatello (1386-1466) spent time in Rome studying & copying statues of antiquity.
His work: statue of David, 1st known life-size freestanding bronze nude in European art since
antiquity. Statue celebrated Florence heroism in triumph of Florentines over Milanese in 1428.
David radiated simplicity & strength that reflected dignity of humanity.

5. Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446) -> friend accompanied Donatello to Rome. He drew much

inspiration from architectural monuments of Roman antiquity & when he returned to Florence,
he poured his new insights into creation of new architecture. 1st project involved challenge of
building dome for unfinished Cathedral of Florence (Duomo). Cathedral started in 1296 but it
was Brunelleschi who devised new building techniques & machinery to create dome, built betw.
1420 & 1436 (spanned 140 foot opening).

6. Church of San Lorenzo -> Medici commissioned Brunelleschi to design church, he created
church interior very diff. from that of great medieval time (influenced by Roman models). Mid
15th century-> artists were giving an accurate rendering of their subjects’ facial features while
revealing inner qualities of their personalities. Portraits of dukes & duchesses of Urbino by Piero
della Francesca (c. 1410-1492) provide accurate representations as well as sense of both power
& wealth of rulers of Urbino.

B. The Artistic High Renaissance

1. End of 15th century-> Italian painters, sculptors & architects had created new artistic
environment. Many artists had mastered new techniques for scientific observation of world
around them & were now ready to move into individualistic forms of creative expression. Final
stage of R. art: flourished betw. 1480 & 1520 called High Renaissance. Shift to H.R. was marked
by increasing importance of Rome as new cultural center of Italian Renaissance.

2. H. R. dominated by work of 3 artistic giants: Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519), Raphael (1483-

1520), & Michelangelo (1475-1564). Leonardo-> represents transitional figure in shift to H.R.
principles. Carried on 15th century experimental tradition by studying everything & even
dissecting human bodies to more clearly see how nature worked. Stressed need to advance
beyond such realism & initiated H.R.’s preoccupation w. idealization of nature or attempt to
generalize from realistic portrayal to an ideal form. Last Supper, painted in Milan, is brilliant
summary of 15th century trends in its organization of space & use of perspective to depict
subjects 3Dly in a 2D medium. Figure of Philip is idealized & there are profound psychological
dimensions to the work. Words of Jesus “one of you shall betray me” are experienced directly as
each of apostles reveals his personality & relationship to Jesus. Through gestures & movement,
Leonardo hoped to reveal a person’s inner life.

3. Raphael-> blossomed as painter @ early age (25), already regarded as 1 of Italy’s best
painters. Was acclaimed for his numerous madonnas, in which he attempted to achienve ideal of
beauty far surpassing human standards. Well-known for his frescoes in Vatican Palace; School of
Athens reveals world of balance, harmony & order-underlying principles of art of classical world
of Greece & Rome.

4. Michelangelo-> accomplished painter, sculptor & architect, another giant of H.R. Worked w/
passion & energy on a remarkable # of projects. Influenced by Neoplatonism esp. evident in his
figures on ceiling of Sistine Chapel in Rome. 1508-Pope Julius II called Michel to Rome & com-

missioned him to decorate chapel ceiling. Colossal project wasn’t completed until 1512. Michel
attempted to tell story of Fall of Man by depicting 9 scenes from biblical book of Genesis.
Creation of Adam- well proportioned figure of Adam awaits divine spark. Adam reveals an ideal
type of human beings with perfect proportions. Good Neoplatonic fashion, beauty of these
figures is meant to be reflection of divine beauty; the more beautiful the body, the more God-like
the figure is. David- colossal marble statue commissioned by Florentine gov’t in 1501 &
completed in 1504. Michel maintained the form of statue already resided in uncarved piece of
stone: “I only take away the surplus, the statue is already there.” Out of a piece of marble that
had remained unused for 50 years, Michel created 14ft high figure, largest sculpture in Italy
since time of Rome. Michel’s David proudly proclaims beauty of human body & glory of human
beings.

4. H.R. was also evident in architecture; esp. in work of Donato Bramante (1444-1514).
Bramante came from Urbino; took up residence in Rome. Designed a small temple on supposed
site of Saint Peter’s martyrdom in Rome. Tempietto, little temple. w/ its Doric columns
surrounding sanctuary form a monumental & harmonious whole. Inspired by antiquity, Bramante
had recaptured grandeur of ancient Rome. His achievement led Pope Julius II to commission him
to design a new basilica for Rome, which eventually became the magnificent Saint Peter’s.

C. The Artistic and Social Status

1. Early R. artists began their careers as apprentices to masters in craft guilds. Apprentices w/
unusual talents might eventually become masters * run their own workshops. As in Middles
Ages, artists were still largely viewed as artisans. Since guilds depended on commissions for
projects, patrons played an important role in art of Early R. Wealthy upper classes determined
both content & purpose of paintings & pieces of sculpture they commissioned.

2. End of 15th century, transformation in position of artist had occurred. Esp. talented individuals
such as Leonardo, Raphael & Michelangelo, were no longer regarded as artists but as artistic
geniuses w/ creative energies akin to divine. Artists were heroes, individuals who were praised
more for their creativity than for their competence as craftspeople. Michel, for example, was
frequently addressed as “II Divino” or the Divine One.